The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer's Center of Excellence, Hardin Valley - Phase II, will open in late 2024 as part of an expanded senior living campus in Hardin Valley, right next to the existing Morning Pointe of Hardin Valley Assisted Living and Memory Care. This one-story community focuses on helping seniors with memory impairments like Alzheimer's and other dementias, and it has 60 apartments in several simple floor plans, including studios and two-bedroom companion suites. There are two levels of care here: Lamplight for residents in early to moderate stages of Alzheimer's or dementia, and Lantern for those in more advanced stages, so people can get the right help as their needs change. The staff includes nurses and caregivers who are trained in dementia and Alzheimer's care, and they're around all day and night to help with things like bathing, getting dressed, moving between beds and chairs, medication reminders, incontinence, and just checking in once in a while to make sure everyone's okay.
The place tries to feel homelike while keeping everyone safe, with secure spaces for people who need more oversight and quieter rooms for those in later stages who need less stimulation. Residents can expect activities like arts and crafts, exercise classes, music therapy, art therapy, and something called cuddle therapy, which is designed to soothe and comfort folks. There's a big focus on life enrichment, so there are also group outings, entertainment, and volunteer projects, and they sometimes invite children from local schools to visit and do activities with the residents, which can really brighten the days around here. For folks who need extra help, there's on-site occupational, physical, and speech therapy, plus a beauty salon and pharmacy services. The place prepares meals with their Farm to Table program, using local and seasonal ingredients, and there're menu options for folks who need special diets like no-salt-added or less sugar. Residents get help getting to their doctor appointments with transportation services when needed.
The Lantern uses some special memory care programs, including the Best Friends™ Approach, Teepa Snow's Positive Approach™ to Care, and Meaningful Day™ programming, all designed to help people with memory loss stay engaged and comfortable based on their own histories and interests. The community has licensed nurses to watch over everyone's health, and every apartment has access to a 24-hour emergency response system if someone needs help fast. The Lantern at Morning Pointe here is the 41st in a family of senior living communities run by Morning Pointe, which started back in 1997 and now provides care in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, and Indiana, with a nonprofit arm called the Morning Pointe Foundation to help support scholarships and caregivers. This campus has a clinical focus and tries to let each person have as much independence, comfort, and connection as they can, all in a safe place among people who know how to help.
